December 17, 1904. 
tUB GARDENING WORLD . 
Among the Orchids. 
Phaius.— Of late years; tlie -hybrid Pliaius which has; 'been 
introduced from the crossing of 'the Madagascar species- P. 
simulans and P. Humblotii with -other -species- a-nd hybrid® 
has very considerably added to the interest, utility, and 
beauty -of the -genus-. There- are- -many who- c-o-mplain that 
they are difficult subjects to- de-a-l with, and fail to- cultivate 
them in a- -satisfactory way ; -these remarks apply principally 
to -the section -of P. -simulansi hybrids, such- as P. Norman, P. 
Go-ok-sioni, etc. There -can be litt-l-ei doubt but- that the chief 
cause -o-f failure is tha-t the- plants are gene-rally supposed to 
require stove -or excessively warm-house treatment with ample 
atmospheric moisture. This is certainly a great mistake, 
especially so during the winter months. The result of a 
saturated atmosphere- with fluctuating temperature outside 
generally makes its appearance- felt- in the unsightly spotting of 
the fo-lia-ge giving a, permanent disfigurement t-o- the plaints, a-s 
long as the leave® -are on the pliant, and frequently s-o- weaken 
the constitution -o-f the plants that it takes a- considerable time 
before we- are -able again t-o- have the plants- in anything like 
a satisf-a-cto-ry -condition o-f health. 
I never had -a -better example of the- failure- of the- plants 
from this cause than in the- early months- -of this year. Two 
houses divided only by a- gl-a-ss partition, the extreme -end 
(south) being retained principally for the oo-o-l intermediate 
sietoi'cn- of Cypripediuin-s- and. the Pliaius Humblotii section o-f 
hybrids, -about a- doaen, plants- of the Phaius N-orman varieties 
•being -also included for want of space in the warmer division. 
The temperature here was- a normal 58 de-g’.. the warmer 
division being kept from 65 deig. to- 70 deg. with fire-heat 
and atmospheric conditions corresponding to temperatures. 
All went well in, -this warm division until t-lie flower scape-s 
gc-t -into a- forward condition-. The foliage had for some¬ 
time displayed miniature white marks or spots. These 
spots suddenly turned bro-wn, them -changed suddenly to -a 
bluish-black, forming the unsightly spotting so dreaded in the 
culture o-f these- plants. The flower scapes being in a forward 
state, bud-si almost expanded, the heat -could not conveniently 
b-ei reduced, but the moisture was- -allowed to -dry -out of the 
atmosphere -a-s quickly a-s- possible, and tins- was, I have no- 
doubt-, tihemea-ns of saving -the -plants from total destruction. 
On the -other hand the- plants which had been placed in the 
cooler house showed n-o- signs -of spotting. Naturally, from 
this I -came- t-o- the conclusion that the excessive- heat and 
moisture requirements! were undesirable-, -and -have grown the 
plants altogether cooler- -at a- temperature of 60 de-g. at night, 
and the results are in -every way satisfactory, the- -plants a,re 
sturdier in growth -and naturally a, little later, but- on examin¬ 
ing the plants I find they are producing their flower s-ca-pes 
much m-o-re ifre-e-ly than, was- -the c-a.se under the warmer condi¬ 
tions where .go- many -restarted int-o- growth without flowering. 
No- mianurei of any description is- used in any -o-f -our Ore-hid 
houses. The plants -are p-ott-e-d in a mixture of fibrous l-oa-m, 
peat, leaf soil, and sand, as stated in a- -spring number -o-f The 
Gardening World. The- plants are kept free from- insect peet-s 
by regular fumigation at, intervals of a, fortnight. Naturally, 
with drier conditions of the atmosphere and the- plants being 
in an active state- o-f growth throughout the winter months, 
more root- m-o-isture is required and afforded, -care always- -being 
'Observed -to- ascertain the- water used to- -be at a.n equal degree, 
at least, to- the normal -temperature -of the- house. It- will be 
-found after c-old ra-ins, or -through melting snow, the water 
temperature in the- tanks becomes -considerably reduced, which 
if used -in -a c-o-ld state- wo-ul-d be undoubtedly dangerous- t-o- the 
plants 1 . Ventilation should be- afforded throughout the- winter 
season-, whenever the outside conditions permit-, using the 
lower ventilators- for -preference-, and taking ca-re t-o- a-v-oid 
direct draughts coming in contact with the plants. H. J. 
The Stove and Greenhouse. 
Euphorbias. — These -showy stove-flowering plants are in¬ 
dispensable for winter dec-oration, and they will now be making 
a brilliant- display. Every endeavour -should be made to keep 
the flowers o-r bracts fresh for as long a time a-s possible. The 
temperature should not exceed 60 -deg. -after the flowers are 
fully -opened, and the atmospheric conditions must be fairly 
dry and -buoyant. If accommodation does not exist for devoting 
a- house entirely t-o- them, then- the plants should be arranged 
by themselves at oner end -of the stove, where the- water 
syringed upon the -other -occupants may not reach them. Admit 
a little top-air daily, t-o- -allow condensed moisture to- pass out, 
and avoid -o-ve-r watering at the root. As they pass o-ut of 
flower les-sen the supply of water by degree® until they are 
finally a-t re-s-t, when place under a stage in ai temperate house 
until re-started n-ext spring. 
Alocacias and Marantas. —Among plants grown for the 
(beauty of their foliage alone- there are few that better repay 
for goo-d culture than these. The plants enjo-y a- season of 
partial rest, but at n-o- time should they be -subjected to- what 
is termed the drying-off pro-oeisisi. The amount of water given 
should n-ow be gradually reduced, merely affording sufficient 
t-o- keep the crowns -plump-. A lower 'temperature should now 
be accorded than formerly, o-r they will mo-t- -obtain t-lia-t rest 
which is- so- essential 1 t-o their c-oming away healthy and strong 
next year. 
Cleansing Glass Structures. —The- -season is fast approaching 
when work -in this -department will be 'multifarious; indeed, so 
much s-o that very little time can be spared for the all-im¬ 
portant process of cleansing the- glass and wood work of the 
house® wherein the plants are- grown. The importance of 
this work being well done once- o-r twice a- year canno-t be over¬ 
estimated. That ample light at- a-11 times is essential t-o- all 
-plant life goes without- saying, but especially so in the early 
part of -the year, when new growth is commencing. The work 
should be- done- methodically, and in proper order. If the 
weather will allow of the removal of the occupants to another 
structure whilst the cleansing is done, so much the better, but 
if not, then half the housei should be- done at one time. A 
general re-arrangement -o-f the plants will then be necessary, 
-and any -that require -sponging o-r otherwise cleaning should 
receive attention now ; also- any unhealthy ones should be 
turned -o-ut, for it, is well t-o- remember that such o-ccupy the 
same room, and require the -same amount -of time and care in 
tending as- a, healthy one. Plenty -o-f hot water -and s-oft- soap 
well brushed int-o- the crevices, afterwards syringing it, off, 
will no-t only -make all sweet- and clean-, but- the various insects 
and their eggs- that may be- lurking there- will -be dislodged. 
The hot-water pipes should receive a- coat- -o-f lamp-black and 
oil, in which may be- incorporated a little- petro-leum. After 
ea-c-li -house is- ciomp-le-t-ed it- should be- fumigated with some 
effectual vaporiser, taking the precaution to- use- it- when the 
fc-liage of the plants is dry. 
Ventilation and Temperatures. —The greenhouse proper 
that contains- a general collection- of plants tha-t are quite 
-a-t home- in the o-p-en air during summer should be well aire-d, 
and tire heat -should only be applied during times of hard fro-sts. 
Oc-ld rushes -o-f wintry air are, however, harmful, and therefore 
much watchfulness is necessary to- maintain free- circulation 
and yet avoid oc-ld dra-ught-s. 
Many gardeners seldom admit- a-ir bo the st-ove during the 
dull winter months, but I am in, favour of giving a- chink at 
the t-o-p every day when, fine and no-t- frosty. This keeps the 
a-ir o-f the house sw-e-et .and wholesome fo-r the 1 plants, and the 
fire-heat in stov-eis- during the middle of the day will check the 
ingress -of c-o-ld outside air at the apex -of the ro-of. All pits 
and frames must be well a-ired whenever the weather alloirs, 
for during spells of frost and snow they have to be kept close, 
which has- a tendency -to make the occupants tender and 
drawn, and more liable t-o- injury from -continued wintry 
weather. K. M. 
